Indoor Golf Season Club 1812

The golf season in Northern New York, for the most part, has run its course.

But the indoor season at the Club 1812 at 101-113 Lake Street in Ogdensburg is just starting to tee off.

Club 1812 co-owners Rita Baxter and Terry Axtell have completely renovated one side of their building, through the services of Chase General Contracting, and two state-of-the art Sports Coach Golf Simulators were installed on Wednesday.

We gave Kenny Chase and his crew the specs and what we needed and they did a great job, says Axtell.

The simulator room is completely segregated from the bar. So when people book tee times they have the room to themselves.

The simulators completely recreate the experience of playing some of the best golf courses in the world. It even offers the sounds of golf from birds chirping to an occasional low flying jet plane.

Participants can play any form of the game, scratch or handicapped, from match or medal play to scotch doubles, captain and crew to all the phases of the Ryder Cup.

Luke Donald and Ian Poulter have this same model in their homes and the technician who did the installation said he just put one in the home of Dan Patrick of ESPN, says Axtell.

You play the holes from tee to green and do the putting. We have 40 courses downloaded and we can download 100 more.

The simulators many programs also offer high tech training aids and has the capability to fit a golfer for clubs. Golfers looking to practice or stage impromptu competitions, rather than play a round, can the utilize a virtual driving and chipping ranges and a putting green.

After a golfer takes a shot the swing speed, ball flight and ball spin is recorded and an image of the balls contact on the club face in the follow-through is projected on the screen.

Golfers are encouraged to bring different makes of balls and one of programs will determine which type is best suited for each individual.

Golfers wanting to hook up for a round with a golf partner who has gone south for the winter can do so through the simulators.

We are just getting started and we are ready to explore all the potential that is out there, says Axtell who invites anyone interested in checking out the simulators to come to an open house at Club 1812 next Sunday (Nov. 10) beginning at noon.

Tee times are now being taken and the simulators can be booked by the hour or for rounds of 18 or nine holes.

Club 1812 will also host a four-person league beginning in the third week of November and is planning a captain-crew tournament in the near future.

Teams in the league can book a tee-time and play their weekly round at their leisure.

Anyone wishing to sign up for the league, schedule a tee-time or just gain information should call 713-4127 or 393-3716.

The Club 1812 owners hope that the simulators will allow people the opportunity enjoy golf and improve their skills year-round. They are also very interested in helping young people become interested and proficient in the game.

Axtell has already many arrangements with the Ogdensburg Boys and Club to bring children to the facility once or twice a week.

Executive Director Tom Luckie Jr. brought a group of youngsters to the facility on Thursday. Needless to say they were all very impressed.

As soon as Terry (Axtell) calls us and tells what time is available, we will be back, said Luckie.

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